Results 4,341-4,360 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: My role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners. My Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Hill of Tara is one of Ireland’s premier national monuments and is of international prominence and importance. In recent years, it has been subject to extensive research by the Discovery Programme, funded by my Department, through which our knowledge and understanding of the site has been greatly increased. Against a general background of increasing visitor numbers, my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Service provision at Waterways Ireland moorings on Lough Derg is not disrupted. All services have been reconnected in advance of the boating season which in the context of the current Covid 19 Pandemic, will re-open fully on 10 May 2021. At that time navigation on the Shannon will resume and all service blocks will be open to boaters and visitors. Waterways Ireland continues to work...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cultural Objects (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The acquisition of objects of cultural heritage interest is primarily a matter for the National Museum of Ireland, and the museum sector, which are under the aegis of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. I have no function in the matter and any movement on repatriating objects in areas such as those mentioned by the Deputy, would need to be considered in its...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The NPWS review is underway with three distinct strands being undertaken concurrently. - Strand one is focusing on stakeholder engagement (internal and external) - Strand two is focusing on reviewing the capacity and resources of the NPWS. - Strand three consists of a comparative desktop analysis of resources/structures of similar organisations in other jurisdictions and an overview of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Ulster Canal Restoration Phases Phase 1 of the Ulster Canal restoration project is complete. This involved the restoration of a 2.5 km stretch of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh to the International Scout Centre at Castle Saunderson near Belturbet in Co. Cavan. The navigation channel on the River Finn up to Castle Saunderson is now open to waterway users, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wild Fires (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The cause of the fire in Killarney is still being investigated and the full impacts will take some time to ascertain. Staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) are presently conducting work to assess the initial impacts of the fire. Staff are currently mapping the entire boundary of the fire and using satellite data to assess the area burnt. Conservation Rangers are undertaking...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (5 May 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Postal voting at elections, including bye-elections, is provided for in electoral law in respect of a number of categories of electors, including: - - Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses/civil partners, - whole-time members of the Defence Forces, - members of An Garda Síochána, - electors living at home who are unable to vote because of a physical illness or a physical...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Private Rented Accommodation (29 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2021 provide strong protections regarding the lawful termination of tenancies. In any notice of termination served after six months of a tenancy commencement, a landlord must state a reason for the termination in accordance with the limited allowable grounds under the legislation. The legislation also provides for specific notices periods to be served...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Private Rented Accommodation (29 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I agree. In terms of the effectiveness of these questions, it would be useful to have the question directed at the particular Department. We will give a response in terms of the responsibilities and the role of the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, but I acknowledge the fact that this is a question that is better directed at the Department of Justice. The RTB was established as an...

Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Order for Second Stage (28 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (28 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank Deputies for providing me with the opportunity to set out the provisions of the Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021. This technical Bill is necessary to allow for the transfer of functions relating to heritage under a number of enactments to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (28 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 450 together. I expect to make a decision on this matter shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Invasive Plant Species (28 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I understand that Fingal County Council has recently applied for funding through my Department's Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme to address the sea buckthorn issue in the area. My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service is preparing a tender request for expertise to carry out a review of sea buckthorn in Ireland. This request is at an advanced stage and aims to: 1) review...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (28 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: It should be noted that while the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department does licence hunting of Deer, my Department does not own the deer population. Wild deer in the State are protected under the Wildlife Acts. They roam freely throughout the countryside and are present in many parts of the country. Deer, albeit larger, are like other wild animals in this country and it...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (28 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: My Department is currently finalising the drafting of a new National Policy on Architecture, which will support and be supported by long–term planning and built environment strategies and will assist in addressing key issues including societal well-being, climate change and urban regeneration, such as through the Town Centre First policy, currently in preparation. As the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (28 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The latest review of Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland was published in the last couple of weeks. I have met with BirdWatch Ireland staff who were among the authors of the report to discuss it and I am considering the various issues  arising.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting (28 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas. Ireland's approach is to recognise the traditional right to cut turf for domestic purposes, while...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tourism Industry (28 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department has been involved in discussions with the zoo sector throughout the period of the pandemic in connection with difficulties faced by the sector as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions and to consider how my Department might be of assistance. In November 2020, Minister O’Brien and  I announced funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Data (28 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: When granting planning permission for wind turbines or wind farms, planning authorities may in some cases include post-construction monitoring as a condition of that planning permission. Carcass searching around the base of some or all of the turbines in the target wind-farm may be part of such post-construction monitoring. Such data, as a condition of planning consent, would generally be...